On a few occasions we have had threads relating to railroad photography, and specifically about certain areas being off limits to photographers. If this concerns you, pick up a copy of the July issue of Popular Photography, which has an article on photographers being harrassed for taking perfectly legal images of buildings, etc. It even mentions one instance of a news photographer being stopped in an Amtrak station.
The article makes it clear that laws prohibiting photography are very limited, and that most harassment by law enforcement and security is generally without legal merit, unless it involves military installations, nuclear power plants, or if you take photos ON private property. (Photography OF private property from a public street is generally OK.) It also offers some useful tips on how to handle a confrontation with ignorant security people.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
Thanks much for the pointer. I have a feeling there are a lot of us that take train and track pictures that would not otherwise think of picking up this magazine. Now if I can find it here . . .
Posted by rY. (Member # 3528) on :
Before the big debate gets going again, let me trot out my clarification: There is a big BIG **BIG** distinction between someone shooting from "behind the yellow line" on a platform and someone standing in the middle of a right of way (or some other "off-limits" area).
The big to-do that I and others have been making-- the position that is, in my opinion, backed up by what Mr. Toy is referencing --is that people have been (improperly) harassed by local or private authorities for taking photos from the public areas ("behind the yellow line") in stations and other "safe" areas of passenger facilities. While there is *limited* debate as to whether or not a passenger platform is "private" or "public" property (and this is more a question of what defines "loitering" or "trespassing"; it really has NOTHING to do with photography in and of itself), the instances that have my dander up are those where there have been no clear RULES by Amtrak, the station facilities in question, or the municipalities in which these stations are located regarding photography* from "publicly accessible" locations.
Hopefully this article can continue to spread the word about what is LEGAL vs ILLEGAL. But it still needs to move past that and into what is practiced by station security, local law enforcement, etc..
(*New York City's Penn Station has a published rule that [only] requires a permit for "commercial photography" and also states that photography gear, such as tripods, can not pose a safety hazard)
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
Where Can I find a copy?
Posted by The Chief (Member # 2172) on :
When I was in Boston South Station on 6 June 2006, I stood next to a Boston Police officer and squeezed off two panoramic pics of the station interior.
"Sir, sir," he said. "You cannot take photographs in here." "OK," I said. "Who made that rule?"
"MBTA, who owns the station," he replied. "All photographers have to apply for a permit."
I had my pics and proceeded to the Acela Lounge. BTW, I stood next to him because that was the best vantage point to get my photos.
Paul, the attendant in the Boston Acela Lounge, said it was OK to take photos inside there.
Later in the week on the Providence, R.I. station platform, I squeezed off three pics of an inbound SB Acela. "Hey, what do we have here," asked a nearby uniformed [b]Amtrak Police[b] officer. "I'm a ticketed passenger, from Texas, just taking some train photos," I said.
"OK," he replied. smiling. "You don't look like you're from Afghanistan." Then we chatted a bit.
Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :
In mid-May I was told by a female station security person that I could not take pictures at Chicago Union Station. I had just come in on the Cardinal and tried to take a photo of the engine just before going through the glass doors into the station. When I mentioned that I had just come off the train and was a railfan she stated "Those are the security rules." What really chaffed me was when a woman waiting for another train chimed in "These days, wouldn't you rather be safe than risk things like 911 happening?" She had no answer when I said "If I wanted a picture for other purposes, I could stand anywhere between Washington and Chicago and shoot all the photos I wanted." Some people have no common sense.